Running back J.J. Arrington is confident in the knee that required microfracture surgery and kept him out of football in 2009.

What's ironic is that Arrington first injured the knee in the NFC title game against the Eagles in the 2008 season. Arrington said that he tore his meniscus just before halftime. Despite the injury, Arrington played in the Super Bowl, which until Sunday was the last time he had pads on.

While he was shocked to learn that he had been traded to the Eagles on Friday night, Arrington said that the Eagles were one of the teams that he was interested in playing for this past offseason. Arrington signed in 2009 with the Broncos and a few months later was released when he was having problems with the knee. Arrington underwent the procedure at the hands of noted surgeon Dr. James Andrews and eventually started following the NFL headlines in the middle of last season.

A former second-round pick out of Cal in 2005, the 5-9, 212-pound Arrington is proficient at catching the ball out of the backfield with 91 career receptions for 693 yards and two touchdowns. He also has averaged 23.6 yards per kickoff return in his career and has scored two touchdowns that way.

"I definitely think I can bring that here," Arrington said of his pass-catching ability. "I used to run routes and stuff outside the backfield, so I figure once I understand the routes and the motions I'll be pretty good with that."

With the knee problems in the rear-view mirror, Arrington is looking at his opportunity in Philadelphia as a fresh start.

"Just to come back and learn the playbook with new teammates. It's good," Arrington said. "(My Agent) said the (Eagles) have pretty much been asking about me the whole offseason. I'm willing to do whatever I need to do to help the team. I've played on special teams my whole career, so I'm happy to do whatever I need to do, third down, whatever.""

-- Posted by Chris McPherson, 2:30 p.m., August 1